The Paris Olympic Games were a success for France, which won 64 medals, finishing fourth in the medals table behind the United States, China and Great Britain.
This was the best performance since Paris 1900, when France won 103 medals. The Olympic Games often favour the host country, as was the case for Great Britain in 1908, Germany in 1936 and China in 2008.
The organisation of the Games also enables smaller countries to improve their ranking, as was the case for Italy in 1960 and Greece in 2004. France, under the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron, had set itself the target of finishing in the top five, which it achieved. On the third day, the French team won eight medals, the most in a single day since 1996.
Léon Marchand, a 22-year-old French swimmer, stood out by winning four gold medals and one bronze. The event attracted a huge audience, with the opening ceremony watched by 23 million people. Results included the 4x100m breaststroke relay’s first medal and silver in 3×3 basketball. France also shone in BMX, climbing to the top of the podium for the first time since 1900.